Oktava Sucks!...

[memriloc]

Thought that'd get your attention...While in L.A. doin' a pop festival I picked up a MC-319 and 2 MC-012's....I LOVE 'EM!!!....Ok well the only thing I've had a chance to try the MC-012's out on is a small body accustic 12 string and some hand percussion (a couple of concert toms I use as bongo/djumbe type sound) and it was pretty damn sweet....The MC-319 on the other hand I've tried on all sorts of shit....vocals in different ways of, accustics, percussion....to me, so far, it hasn't failed....It's the first time I've ever heard of Oktava, they don't have them here... as far as I've seen, and I'm in love....Now for the questions....

*Is anyone else as impressed as I am with Oktava?
*I want to get another 319, but was also wondering what the others are like....I know the 219 is basicly the same mic in a new houseing, but they seem cheaper ($) to buy so I was concidering on of them too for front of kit miking, guitar ect....are they any different sonicly due to the housing.....
*And finally....well I don't actually have another question, I just like the look of three stars rather than two

Cheers guys!

 

[Richard Monroe]

The MC012's are workhorse mics for instruments, overheads, and group vocals. The MK319 is a fair mic, but mine is very dark. I use it for high thin voices or to tone down an acoustic guit that's too bright. For a large diaphagm, I use SP C3, and prefer it on most sources. Check out ML52, the new ribbon mic. Instead of MK319, I would consider the LOMO head for 012, which turns it into a large diaphragm.-Richie

 

[Track Rat]

I've been an Octava fan for years (actually I'm a Russian spy under deep cover). I love the 012's and have a pair of them with all three capsule types (all small diaphram, omni, cardiod and hyper cardiod). Great over heads and on acoustic instruments.
The 319 is one of my all time favorite vocal mics. I agree, it's a dark sounding mic but I think that's what I like the most about it. No hyped up, strident high end. I love it.
Also, I agree on the LOMO M-1 or M-3 33mm capsules. They'll thread right on the MK-012 preamp body and are a kick ass large diaphram capsule. Someone pass me the Stoli.

 

[Meshuggah]

My 012's are my pride and joy, and I can assure you, they're excellent vocal mics even without the LOMO...

 

[knownuttin]

The 219s pretty much do suck. The 319 was an attempt to correct some of the 219's design flaws. It's somewhat better.

I would echo those who say get the Lomo head for your 012s instead. Much better value.
-kent

 

[memriloc]

219 & Lomo...

Hmmm...interesting....As I said, I LOVE the 319 which is why I wanna grab another one....It just seems to work realy well with my setup...16-trk analog running GP-9....so taken that into account how how in what ways is the 219 different to the 319?....Now about the Lomo's....I checked them out and they seemed like a smooth little head for the 012's, but I've heard that the pre in the body just isn't quite strong enough to drive the Lomo's to their full....Not true?

 

[JMarcomb]

im having a ton of fun with my matched pair of 012's. I use them on my acoustic guitar and they add a degree of color to the sound. when im bored I poke my nose into the cedar box they came in and sniff a little bit for sensual enjoyment. I hope they sell them in the afterlife.

 

[memriloc]

A little bit of sensual enjoyment....Man I HAVE to get that capsual...lmao....Nah...I know what you mean man the more I play with them the more thing's I find out they're good for....

 

[RedHeffer]

Problem with 012...

I'm trying not to stray too far away from the original post but I had a question about the cardioid capsule for the MC012. On one of my 012's the grill portion of the capsule came off. The mic works fine, but I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to securely put the grill back on. I think I need some kind of adhesive, but I'm sure that putting plain old glue would be a bad idea.

Brian

 

[philboyd studge]

The usual fix and what works for me is a 2db boost at 3800khz. It's the grille.

 

[memriloc]

LMAO!

 

[philboyd studge]

Guess I shouda mentioned that that tweek was for the 219, not the grill that came off.

I've had grills come off 57's a few times over the years........I put 'em back with a little bit of an adhesive known as 'shoe goo'.

 

[Robert D]

Yes, the title got my goat. I just re-tracked a vocal yesterday that I had done with a 319, with my new NTK...not because I didn't like the vocal before, but because of a re-write. Love the new track, but I love the 319 track too, and was supprised how well it A/B'd with the NTK track. It really is a good mic, one that I'll never get rid of. The NTK is a little silkier, but silk isn't always what you want. Love my 012 too. I'm curious about the LOMO head, but want to hear one first, which isn't easy. No one seems to carry them, and I live near San Francisco!

 

[JMarcomb]

http://www.sound-room.com/ carries them.... a little more p/r for them

 

[Robert D]

Yea, that's great....if you live in Connecticut.

 

[JMarcomb]

are we still using a horse and buggy mail system?

 

[sjjohnston]

Actually, the Oktava 012 bites:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=59342

Many things are great, if you live in Connecticut (I don't live there, but I did go to school there a long time ago).

As for the 219 and 319, the 319 is the one with the newer housing. The housing is an acknowledged problem with the 219 -- apparently it resonates. I gather (from posts on r.a.p. or something I saw somewhere) that attempts to "fix" the 219 housing include things like (i) stuffing it was something and (ii) cutting off the cross-wise grille pieces with a hack saw. The latter kind of ruins that cold-war-Russian-badly-designed-electric-shaver look that's otherwise so charming.

Discussion of the 012 can lead to extended and heated discussions about the Sound Room and Guitar Center. Please avoid this, if at all possible.

 

[JMarcomb]

thank god I use my ears more than my mouth!

 

[memriloc]

012's

Heated discussions?...Why?...I know you said not to, but, just curious?

 

[Midlandmorgan]

We use the 319 often...agreed on being a tad 'darker', which is often a good thing...had success with female voices and banjo (I didn't say it...but someone else said they were essential the same timbre)